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Motorhead X Skate Video Tribute

The best of Lemmy-scored shredding

The last two months have sadly seen the passing of both Phil ‘Philthy Animal’ Taylor and Lemmy Kilminster from the almighty Motorhead. Motorhead are a band who were integral to many a skateboarder’s musical upbringing, something immediately visible when you look at the number of video sections that the band’s music has appeared in. Fast, heavy and raw, they managed to bridge musical divides and tastes in a way that not many others could achieve.

As an ode to the band, to Phil and to Lemmy, we have put together some of the classic moments where, over the years, skateboarding and Motorhead have met. Pour yourself a jack and coke, turn the volume up and enjoy.

Jeff King and Paul Luna in Blockhead Skateboards – Debbie Does Blockhead (1992)

Ace of Spades

Hearing the familiar licks of Motorhead’s classic Ace of Spades in a standard early 90s ‘big pants small wheels’ type release would be fairly jarring, but thankfully Jeff King and Paul Luna’s section in Blockhead Skateboards’ 1992 release Debbie Does Blockhead portrays the faster, gnarlier side of that era in the first outing we can find for Lemmy and co on a skate video,

The same song was also used the following year in Andy Stone’s short section which opens 101’s Snuff.

Wade Speyer in Thrasher – Need for Speed (1993)

Burner

Vert, handrails, miniramps, car parks, pools, motocross…alongside Cardiel, Wade Speyer pioneered ATV skateboarding in the early 90s and his section in Thrasher’s Need for Speed couldn’t have been better suited to a track than Burner.

Brad Hayes and Tim Brauch in Emerica – Yellow (1997)

Ace of Spades

Another outing for Ace of Spades, this time in the classic Emerica video Yellow where it backed up Brad Hayes’ high pop and Tim Brauch’s spring loaded legs and deep trick bag.

Dennis Busenitz in Real Skateboards – Real to Reel (2001)

Iron Fist

Perennial favourite, skaters’ skater and high speed enthusiast Dennis Busenitz is a clear contender for ‘skater most suited to skating to Motorhead’. Luckily, Real Skateboards realised this the moment they put him on the team.

Tours section in 1984 Clothing – Let It Bleed (2001)

Overkill (and Radio Birdman’s ‘New Race’)

Both Radio Birdman and Motorhead are on offer in the massive tour section from 1984’s ‘Let It Bleed’. Featuring Chet Childress, Neil Heddings, Tony Loco and more, and ending with some classic Burnside footage, this is gnarly.

Geoff Rowley in Flip – Really Sorry (2003)

Serial Killer

Geoff Rowley was a drinking buddy of Lemmy’s, even making a brief appearance on the most recent documentary detailing the life of the gravel voiced singer, and starting his Christian-bating, handrail battering section in Flip’s Really Sorry with Lemmy’s eerie acapella monologue Serial Killer was a stroke of genius.

Jon Allie in Zero – New Blood (2005)

We Are The Road Crew

One of the finest moments in Zero’s videography, Jon Allie skates like he’s picking a fight with every spot he visits as the anthemic We Are The Road Crew blasts its way into your aural cavities.

Drew Dezort in 1031 – Bleed for Me (2006)

Tear You Down

Kristian Svitak’s now sadly defunct 1031 Skateboards channelled the legacy of 90s dirtbag companies such as Scarecrow Wheels, the aforementioned 1984 Clothing and 151 Skateboards (who opened ‘Too Loud for the Crowd‘ with Over the Top‘. As such, its no surprise that Lemmy and the crew made an appearance – in this case for Drew Dezort’s section in Bleed for Me.

Geoff Rowley in Flip – Extremely Sorry(2009)

Lemmy – Stand by Me

While Flip’s 2009 release Extremely Sorry had a shall we say ‘divisive’ soundtrack, no one could really front on Lemmy’s oddly tender take on soul staple Stand by Me which scored Rowley’s section.

Austin Kanfoush in the One Up Skateshop Promo (2012)

Overkill

Austin Kanfoush is one of the next generation of ATVs and has a mastery of the hill bomb close to that of Frank Gerwer. Charging massive gaps, looming concrete and spots that we wouldn’t touch with yours, as well as having back up from Jake Johnson, Ryan Harris and a whole cast of rippers, this promo from One Up Skateshop is the perfect pre-skate hype.

Mark Frolich in Kingpin’s Lemmy tribute ‘Stand’ (2015)

Stand

Mark Frolich not only skates fast and gnarly, but he occasionally dedicates tricks to Lemmy and put together this whole section for Lemmy’s 70th birthday…the perfect way to close this post!